One can never get to his destination if he does not know where it is. This is plain logic. Hence, it is just logical to set a goal or two. These determine the direction of any action. In the business world, this sets the stage for the future. Someone who wishes to be in consultancy should start by answering the question on how do I set goals for my consulting business.
To make success more possible, it helps to incorporate proper planning. This does not mean complete assurance, but statistics and logic both supports the value of making plans in getting what one aims for.
There are actually two major things that should be set. These are the short-term goals and the long-term ones. It is important for someone who wants to be a force to reckon in the field of consultancy to realize the importance of these two for a business’ prosperity.
Short-term Goals
As the term itself suggests, short-term ones involve a less lengthy period of time. They usually take a year or so to be achieved. Basically, these things serve as the step-by-step procedure with the aim of achieving the long-term goal later on.
Basically, these goals should be Smart. They should be specific and concrete. They should be measurable, which can be in dollar, percentage or any other forms of measurement deemed appropriate. They should be action-oriented and predetermined as to who does which, when and how. They should also be realistic and practical. These should come with deadlines as well.
Long-term Goals
Long-term targets, on the other hand, connote a longer time line, which can usually run from three to five years. Generally, these tend to be abstract and more encompassing than their shorter-termed counterparts.
This type of target involves four areas of great importance to the business. These are in terms of the overall growth, profit, service and social levels. The first one incorporates physical, financial and all other aspects of business growth, the second entails the aim to achieve a certain profit percentage, the third revolves around the quality of service being provided and its impact on customer satisfaction and repeated business while the last is all about giving back to one’s community.
Knowing about all this is the perfect way to start answering the query on how do I set goals for my consulting business. The two types of goals are very much different in nature, but they are very similar in the way they look at the future for the business.